Description: Sixteen-year old Cameron Ramirez loves to paint. As a matter of fact, she recently got a summer job doing what she loves! There's just one catch, she's face painting at a local zoo. How will she fair? Will business boom or will it be a total disaster?
This short story was created for the second part of the Side Hustle Writing Contest, Kidding Me. Takes place two weeks after "Dye It Pink."
Completed November 28, 2020
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If you told me I'd be painting this summer I'd say, "No kidding. That's what I did last summer." Well, this time it's different. My mom, who works at the gift shop at our local zoo, came home one day telling me they had a job opening I might be interested in. Naturally, my interest was peaked when she said it involved painting. She showed some of my work to her boss and one thing led to another and... now I'm working as a face painter at the local zoo for the summer. On the bright side, at least no one will recognize me since we only just moved here three weeks ago. It'll certainly look interesting on a job resume that's for sure.
Today is my first day on the job. Mom and I rode together as she's having to open the gift shop this morning. My stand is located right outside the gift shop with a perfect view of the water fountain and the duck pond nearby. Maybe this won't be so bad after all?
I'd just finished setting up my workspace for the day, with clean brushes and a fresh set of face paints, when I feel a sudden tug on the hem of my shirt. Instinctively, I look down and spot a young boy with curly blonde hair, bright green eyes, and pale skin. He looks no older than five-years old and as cute as a button. The zoo must be open for visitors now. I can't believe I lost track of time.
"Hi, little guy," I greet him. He doesn't reply but gives me a sweet smile in response.
"Thomas!" A young woman came running and shouting in my direction, "Thomas! There you are! So this is where you ran off to?"
"Mommy I want my face painted!" He exclaims.
His mother sighs, "Alright, just promise you won't run off on your own from now on, okay?"
"I promise!"
"What would you like?" I grab a small catalog of different designs and begin to flip through it. Thomas points to an intricate design of scales and teeth that resemble a Tyrannosaurus rex.
"Ooh that one! I like that one!"
"Are you sure baby? That one looks a bit difficult. Maybe you should pick something more simple?" Suggests the mother.
Thomas drops his head in disappointment.
"No, I can do it!" I reassure them. It certainly was a very intricate design but, for some reason, I felt confident in my abilities to pull it off. The little boy's face re-emerges with a wide grin as he plops himself down into the chair in front of me.
It took about thirty minutes to complete but by the end his face looks like a perfect copy of the design on the paper. The look on his face as he gazes at himself in the mirror is just priceless. It was in that moment that I knew this is the job I want. To make people smile.
